Step 4: Assemble The Frame
The rest of the frame I assembled on solid ground, not wanting to hold everything in place with one hand while installing decking screws with the other.
Joists
String Up Outdoor Curtains
For more shade than a pergola alone can provide, consider outdoor curtains to add a little shade to your pergola. Kate, from Centsational Style, shares an easy DIY using canvas tarps for sturdy shades. Simple, affordable, and still attractivejust what everyone wants! Alternatively, you can string up a weatherproof curtain or two like this .
Step 6: Pour The Concrete
At this point, I had the frame attached to the joists, and the joists attached to the ledger board on the house. To make the frame perfectly level across the top, I lifted the posts just a little and tossed in just a bit of dry concrete ready-mix to raise its height just enough to make my bubble read perfect.
Then to make the posts exactly straight up and down, I lifted and moved the bottom ends in the post holes, measuring with the level after each adjustment. After letting things settle for about a half-hour, I re-checked everything with the leveler again. It was still plumb and square, so that meant it was time to pour some concrete.
I chose six 80-lb. bags of post-set concrete. I mixed one bag at a time, using my garden hoe to stir in water until the concrete became a near-liquid, something resembling sloppy mud. Then I used my shovel to put equal amounts into each post hole, repeating this process until I got to the last bag.
For the last batch of concrete I added less water and mixed it to the consistency of raw cookie dough and, wearing work gloves, I grabbed gobs by hand and formed it into a dome at the base of each post to prevent water from pooling. Then I used a block of scrap wood as a trowel to tap and smooth the surface of the concrete. Then I let the concrete set.
Patio cover frame looking quite nice!
Step 3: Make The Posts Even
Next I scratched my head as I thought about how Id make sure that the tops of the three posts would be even once they were placed into the post holes. Moreover, without anyone to help hold things in place, I needed to figure out how to attach the rest of the frame to posts that would already be standing upright.
What I came up with worked, although I never saw it done on TV. I laid a board on the patio slab and set a bubble level on the end of that board. Then I took that end of the board to the hole and stood the 4×4 post up straight, holding it by hand, and lifted the board with the bubble level up until it was level and then made a mark on the 4×4 post. I then laid down the post and measured seven feet from its top and marked it. The difference between the two marks was how much taller I wanted the post to be, so I attached a length of treated 2×4 to the end, adding enough length to the post so that its height would be perfect. I did this for all three posts.
Squared the frame
Method 1 Of 2:installing Different Types Of Patio Covers
Step 3: Get Rid Of The Moisture
Wooden posts are prone to deterioration due to pests and moisture. To hold such damage at bay, you can try adding some gravels or crushed stone to each hole that you just dug out.
Add the gravels into the holes to a depth of three inches then tamp down the layer. After that, pour another three inches of gravel into the holes and tamp them down again.
Inexpensive Ways To Cover Concrete Patio
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When someone first came up with the idea for a patio, it was devised solely for relaxation. You can decorate them and design a comfortable sitting area for you and your friends and family.
Nothing goes too far when it comes to concrete patios because theyre usually in your backyard, not in the front. The only people that will see it are people that you invite to see it, so why not have a little fun?
When you begin to come up with an idea for how your concrete patio will look, functionality is important. There should be an adequate amount of seating, which is all furniture made for outdoor use; a table or some type of surface for food and drinks; easy access to the door that leads inside your house; and most importantly, a cover, to provide shade and privacy.
Were going to be focusing on how to inexpensively cover a concrete patio.
Table of Contents
- Build a concrete patio cover that you love
A Few Other Things To Consider
Depending on your location, local regulations such as fire zones may prohibit you from installing certain patio covers. In addition, should permits be necessary and depending on the materials you choose, there may be limitations on your part, if drawings, engineering and such are required. Unless of course, you are an engineer or architect.
How To Cover A Concrete Patio With Spray Paint
Finally, First Home Love Life updated her front entry with a stepping stone mold and spray paint! Easy alternative to stamping concrete!
We hope you loved these DIY patio cover up ideas! Check out our post 9 DIY Cool & Creative Patio Flooring Ideas for more great ideas, projects and tutorials! You also may love our post on Patio Privacy Screens!
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Stylish Covered Patio Ideas
The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto
A well-designed patio cover can enhance your outdoor living experience and increase the amount of time you spend outside. For any major outdoor structure, you’ll want to work with a professional, like an architect or landscape architect, to make sure your building complies with city codes and is engineered correctly. Other considerations before planning, designing and building a patio cover include:
- Budget
- Architectural style of your house
- Materials you desire and what is available in your region
- Location
- Size and scale of patio and overhead
- Orientation of the patio to the sun, like a hot west-oriented location or cold-northern
Take a look at 50 very different patio covers, certain to spark some ideas for your own project.
How Much Is A Patio Cover
The Puget Sound is a great place to live if you want the benefits of living in the city while still being able to experience nature.
One of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest in your own back yard is to build a patio cover. Patio covers are a great way to expand your functional living space into the outdoors while adding character and value to your home. They can provide you with a beautiful outdoor retreat that is protected from the elements.
While specific costs of building a patio cover can vary throughout the Greater Seattle area based on a number of factors, the expert builders at Timberline have put together a handy guide to help you understand what you need to consider when determining how much is a patio cover?.
How To Build A Paver Patio
This article was co-authored by Scott Johnson. Scott Johnson is the Owner and Lead Design Consultant for Concrete Creations, Inc., an award-winning landscape and design company based in the San Diego, California metro area. He has over 30 years of experience in the pool and landscape construction industry and specializes in large estate outdoor environment construction projects. His work has been featured in San Diego Home & Garden Magazine and on Pool Kings TV Show. He earned a BS degree in Construction Management with an emphasis in Architecture and CAD design from Northern Arizona University.There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 14,973 times.
With the addition of a few rustic paver stones, you can transform a humdrum backyard into an enchanted wilderness escape. All you need is a basic plan for your new patio space and an eye-catching design for the stones themselves. Once the initial planning is out of the way, you can begin the process of excavating your lawn and installing the foundation layer-by-layer. When its all said and done, youll have an idyllic, professional-looking outdoor haven to show for your efforts.
Planning Your Patio Cover
When designing a patio cover, it can help to make a drawing of cover including the house and the patio itself. SketchUp or other designing software can be helpful in your planning, but in lieu of those aids, scale drawings on graph paper will work just fine. For our purposes we will design a cover that is 12 ft. wide by 16 ft. long.
Start by measuring from grade or ground next to the foundation up to the underside of the eaves. Next measure out to the fascia or vertical finish of the eaves. Determining the roof pitch completes this part of the drawing. The simplest way to hold one end of a 2-ft. level against the roof, and then measuring straight down to the roofing material. Divide that number by two and that gives you the pitch, or the amount of vertical rise in the roof per foot of run. Transfer those calculations to your drawing.
Next measure out from the house to the edge of the patio. Most often the grade slope away from the house slightly for drainage. .
Getting A Building Permit For A Patio Cover
Some people said a building permit was unnecessary, while others said it was impossible to get without a contractor’s license, or that it would raise my property tax, etc. So I called the permit and licensing office and got the correct answers.
- Yes, a permit was required.
- No, it wouldn’t raise my taxes,
- As long as the property owner didn’t care if I wasn’t a licensed contractor, they didn’t either.
Getting the building permit was actually much easier than I thought. I took the plans to the towns permit and licensing office, filled out some paperwork, and the next morning I got a call and went back to the permit office to pick up and pay for the permit, which came to $85. They made a couple of alterations to the plan that not only were easy to accommodate but also made the project easier and cheaper! To prepare for the final inspection, I took pictures of each critical step to show the building inspector, which made the final inspection a snap.
Building Permit
Modern Industrial Entry Courtyard
An entry courtyard for a home-based work/art studio designed by Homes by Monticello in Missouri features cedar decking and slat walls. A corrugated plastic roof adds rain protection and allows natural sunlight to filter through. The home is built around a grain silo, giving it a “modern industrial” sensibility.
Step 9: Double Check For A Better Freestanding Patio Cover
Now you have the structure of a freestanding patio cover. You can begin to cover the patio with the materials of your choice such as lattice wood, translucent fiberglass, wood and shingles, metal panels , boards and netting, or canvas shade sails.
The structure that you have just made is the simplest one. There are various kinds of structures available that suit your patio very well.
But you have to remember to double-check the level of the whole patio before adding the roof. For more freestanding patio cover ideas, check out these ten fantastic patios.
A Freestanding Patio Tends To Be Easier To Install
Attaching the cover of your patio on the roof of your house can be arduous and harmful. If the structure of the roof is not strong enough, it cannot support the cover.
Unlike the ones that rely on the roof of a house, a freestanding patio is stronger and safer because it is supported by four posts that do not rely on any other buildings.
Types Of Patio Covers
The second consideration when determining the cost of a new patio cover is the type of material that you would like to use. In the Greater Seattle area, there are a wide range of options for building a good quality patio cover, including vinyl, wood and aluminum.
Because each of these has a unique price point, the type of material youd like to use to build your new patio cover can have a big effect on your budget.
Timberline is happy to provide you with a free consultation to determine what material is best to compliment your style and budget
Popular patio cover options available from Timberline are:
Vinyl Patio Covers
Aluminum Patio Covers
K Aluminum Patio Covers
Moreover, the cost between the 4K and the other companies is quite little, in comparison. 4K aluminum patio covers come in four colors to choose from. The powder coat used is a Jotum material but before the powder coat is applied, the aluminum will first receive a coat of Gold Chromate for pre-treatment. unlike other aluminum patio cover manufacturers, 4K offers this material as a corrosion inhibitor even to the inside of each part, where youd never expect to see it. Thats just one aspect of this material that takes it from the Mercedes Benz of aluminum patio covers to the Rolls Royce.So when we ask ourselves how much do patio covers cost we must ask ourselves first, what are the qualities of each patio cover being compared here.
4K lattice patio covers
Build A Concrete Patio Cover That You Love
No matter what type of patio cover you decide to make, you should be comfortable with looking at it every day when you go outside. Dont feel like you need to settle just because of a shortage of funds.
These 3 patio cover ideas arent the only ones out there; do some research and find one that makes you happy in every way. And after its completed, if you dont like it, try to change it or build a different one. Since you saved money, you can afford to redo it!
Vinyl Patio Covers Cost
Vinyl patio covers are resistant to common problems faced by wood, such as rot, warping, and insect infestation. They also dont rust, fade, or crack. However, some vinyl has been known to turn a yellowish color. Nevertheless, vinyl does seem to share many of the same characteristics as aluminum.
So why is vinyl in between wood and aluminum? The price point is more than that of aluminum while at the same time reaching into wood price territory. Its basically the worst of all worlds when surrounded by wood or aluminum.
So what makes vinyl patio covers more than aluminum? Well, to start with theres more of it, which is to say there is more product. While aluminum is a stand-alone product much like wood, vinyl requires additional steel members to be inserted within each structural piece for stability. Its these added pieces which contribute to more, more labor and more materials. Aluminum requires no additional pieces for structural stability nor does wood.
Vinyl lattice patio covers
- Smooth finish, no wood-like texture
- Looks like a kit patio cover
- Be careful when cutting this material. One wrong cut and you need a new piece.
- Engineering or drawings may be necessary under specific conditions
- Some HOAs will not allow Vinyl to be installed
A vinyl lattice patio cover goes for the slightly more reasonable price range of $2200 to $4350 installed
Prices stretch from $3,825 to a very custom $6,275 to get a basic, fully-covered 10 x 10 vinyl patio cover installed.
Attached Or Freestanding: Different Requirements For Each
If your patio cover is attached to a house or structure, in most cases, you can often attach posts to existing concrete footings. However, if you plan to install a freestanding pergola, the code requires you to dig concrete footings to ensure stable support. You wont be able to attach your posts directly to an existing concrete slab.
#1: Buy A Shade Sail Or Shade Cloth
A shade cloth is a stretched piece of fabric that hangs above a patio, any type of patio.
A shade sail is the same thing, except shaped like a sail rather than a square. This might sound like the retractable covers youve seen, but they are, in fact, completely different.
Since shade cloths are stretched across, they look more sophisticated and design-oriented. You can place them almost anywhere.
All you have to do is create three or four spots to mount the cloth from, depending on the shape of the cloth. You can do this by embedding poles into the ground or by attaching hooks to an already existing cover.
Shade cloths are very inexpensive; they go for $30 to $40 on Amazon and are just as cheap at some hardware stores, like Lowes.
Step 7: Finish The Job
After that it was simple but repetitive work. I attached 1 x 6 boards to the top of the joists, and then screwed the corrugated metal roof to them. The most difficult part was getting the upper end of the metal sheets to go under the drip edge and roof decking of the house and to butt up against a bead of clear-drying roof cement I had put in there with a caulking gun. Also, putting a bead of sealer along the edge of the metal sheets before overlapping them was a bit demanding, though absolutely necessary.
The job was done at that point. As for the corrugated metal roofing, I chose rubber washer metal-into-wood screws with ¼ bolt heads and used a ¼ magnetized drill adapted socket to put them in. That type of screw goes into every valley at the top and bottom ends of the panels and every other valley throughout the rest of the roof, into the 1 x 6 boards placed 24 on the center.
Part 3 Of 3:installing The Pavers
Freestanding Metal Roofing Patio Cover
The aim of building a freestanding patio cover is to protect you from the rain and the glare of the sun. Therefore, you can use any materials for the roof including the tin roof.
Tin roof, just like any other metal roofs, has many benefits. Tin roofs are more durable than wooden and plastic roofs. They are also lighter which makes them easier to install. They are also resistant to fire.
This patio features a very simple structure and there is nothing wrong with that. The simple structure tends to be practical rather than aesthetical.
The black metal posts and beams are sturdy enough to support the tin roof. To get a cooler breeze, a fan hangs over the table.
Part 1 Of 3:plotting Your Patio